James Ward (1851–1924) Belfast-born artist, author and teacher. Ward was an important figure in the Irish and British art scene in the late 19th and early 20th century. He is best known in Ireland for his striking murals in Dublin City Hall depicting scenes from Dublin’s history. Besides being the author of influential textbooks, Ward was an innovative teacher who taught and inspired a generation of Irish artists. 20130807 dublin032

Life

James Ward was born on 17 November 1851 at Gavin’s Buildings,

Shankill Road The Shankill Road () is one of the main roads leading through West Belfast, in Northern Ireland. It runs through the working-class, predominantly loyalist, area known as the Shankill. The road stretches westwards for about from central Belfast a ...

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

. He was the son of James Ward a house painter and decorative artist. Ward studied at the Belfast Government School of Art, and in 1872 he was awarded a scholarship to the

National Art Training School The Royal College of Art (RCA) is a public research university in London, United Kingdom, with campuses in South Kensington, Battersea and White City, London, White City. It is the only entirely postgraduate art and design university in the Unit ...

, South Kensington, London. While there, he worked with

Sir Edward Poynter Sir Edward John Poynter, 1st Baronet (20 March 183626 July 1919) was an English painter, designer, and draughtsman, who served as President of the Royal Academy. Life Poynter was the son of architect Ambrose Poynter. He was born in Paris, ...

who recommended him as an assistant to Sir Frederic Leighton. He assisted Leighton on the two vast murals ''Peace'' and ''War'' at the Museum of Ornamental Art in London (subsequently South Kensington Museum and now the Victoria and Albert Museum). He was Leighton's sole assistant until 1887, and wrote an account of the two frescoes for the ''Magazine of Art''. He subsequently worked in art education, and was appointed head of Macclesfield School of Art in 1888. In 1907 he returned to Ireland (residing at 88 Marlborough Road, Dublin) as headmaster of the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (now National College of Art and Design). His innovations there included introducing new classes of painting in spirit fresco and wood carving. He held that post until he retired in 1918. Over his career, he exhibited at the

Royal Academy of Arts The Royal Academy of Arts (RA) is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly in London. Founded in 1768, it has a unique position as an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects. Its purpo ...

, Belfast Art Society and the

Royal Hibernian Academy The Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823. Like many other Irish institutions, such as the RIA, the academy retained the word "Royal" after most of Ireland became in ...

, and his designs won prizes at the 1878 Paris Exposition and the 1884 London Health Exhibition. Ward is best known in Ireland for the mural paintings in the rotunda of Dublin’s City Hall, undertaken on behalf of

Dublin Corporation Dublin Corporation (), known by generations of Dubliners simply as ''The Corpo'', is the former name of the city government and its administrative organisation in Dublin since the 1100s. Significantly re-structured in 1660-1661, even more sign ...

. The twelve frescoes consist of eight scenes from the early history of Dublin, and four heraldic panels representing the four provinces of Ireland. They were commenced in 1914 and completed in 1918. Ward was assisted by some of his students in the work, including

Harry Clarke Henry Patrick Clarke (17 March 1889 – 6 January 1931) was an Irish stained-glass artist and book illustrator. Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement. His work was influenced by both the Art Nouveau and ...

and

Seán Keating Seán Keating (born John Keating, 28 September 1889 – 21 December 1977) was an Irish romantic-realist painter who painted some iconic images of the Irish War of Independence and of the early industrialization of Ireland. He spent two week ...

. On retirement, James Ward went first to England, and then to the home of his daughter in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). He died there on 18 May 1924.

Publications

Ward authored numerous books, many becoming standard teaching texts and widely translated. *''Colour harmony and contrast: for the use of art students, designers, and decorators'' (1912) *''Fresco painting: its art and technique'' (1909) *''History and methods of ancient & modern painting'' (1914) *''The principles of ornament'' (1896) *''Historical ornament: treatise on decorative art and architectural ornament'' (1892)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ward, James 1851 births 1924 deaths Artists from Belfast Alumni of the Royal College of Art Academics of the National College of Art and Design